How Robert Downey Jr's Dark Past Got Him Banned From Japan

It turns out that you can never fully recover from past mistakes, because someone will always remember them.

Or in the case of Robert Downey Jr, it's not someone, it's the government.

His past behavior once messed him up on a whole new level. It happened in 2008 when the famous actor almost missed the premiere of the first Iron Man movie.

Downey was on his way to Japan, and after landing, he was detained by the Japanese authorities for six full hours. The authorities checked Robert Jr.'s passport and found out that he was involved in various criminal activities.

There were the actor's numerous DUI arrests, drug-related charges and some other infractions he committed while either drunk or high.

The thing is, he didn't mention all of this when he filled out the paperwork before the flight, which is why he was questioned for so long.

The airport workers wouldn't even let him into the country. The fact that he was the main star of the Iron Man movie premiering in Japan didn't help either.

After a long debate, the authorities finally decided in his favor, but on one condition: it would be the last time Robert Downey Jr. visited Japan.

Confiding in David Letterman in an interview about the accident, Downey Jr admitted that it may have been his fault all along.

"I probably should have seen there was a sign that said 'No Felons Allowed' in English and Japanese and I haven't had that expunged yet. You can actually get things expunged but I've been pretty busy. So I was detained, I was interrogated. It was a blast," he shared back then.

Unfortunately for the actor (or Japan?), Downey Jr. is no longer allowed to enter the country. So no sakura blossoms for you, Iron Man.